Federal Police: 20 companies moved R$ 300 million.

Alagoas247 Although the police have not released the names of the suspects, there is unofficial information that business owners Walmer Almeida and Vitória Zoolo are part of the group, which included at least two other people. Walmer and Vitória are siblings.

 Four temporary arrest warrants, 24 search and seizure warrants, and eight warrants for coercive questioning were executed in Maceió, Arapiraca, Anadia, and Branquinha, in Alagoas, as well as Feira de Santana, in Bahia. The warrants were issued by the 17th Criminal Court, and the temporary arrests are for a period of five days, which can be extended for another five days. According to the Federal Police, four people were arrested accused of participating in the scheme.

In addition to charges of racketeering, money laundering, falsifying documents, and illegal possession of weapons, the police will investigate whether the group evaded taxes, given that the declarations made by the group to the Internal Revenue Service were significantly lower than the actual amount of tax levied on their assets. 

According to the Federal Police, the frauds occurred with the collaboration of "front men," who took control of the companies and proceeded to falsify the accounting. The investigation began at the end of last year, after the police became suspicious of the number of companies opened in a short period of time. Their proximity also caught the attention of the Federal Police.

According to the head of the Tax Crimes Unit, Adriano Moreira, documents, computers, safes, and weapons were seized from the suspects' homes. During the arrest, there was no resistance from those involved, who were taken to the Federal Police headquarters in the Jaraguá neighborhood, where they gave statements. "The amount of money involved is impressive, but we don't know for sure the gang's true intentions in creating the companies and acquiring the luxury properties, vehicles, and aircraft. We also cannot disclose the names of those involved, some of whom are accountants and others high-ranking officials," explained Adriano.

According to tax inspector Edmundo Tojal, the analysis of the seized material will have the support of the agency, which will initiate tax proceedings. "Now, we will truly begin to investigate whether or not there was tax evasion," Tojal stated.

Action

The operation began around 5:30 am and targeted, in the capital, car dealerships located on Avenida Menino Marcelo; a store in the Hiper Bompreço supermarket in the Gruta neighborhood; and a luxury condominium in the upper part of Maceió. 

According to federal delegate Gustavo Gatto, 70 men from the Federal Police of Alagoas and Pernambuco and another 25 from the Internal Revenue Service were involved in the operation, which also took place in the municipalities of Arapiraca, Anadia and Branquinha, in Alagoas, and in Feira de Santana, in the state of Bahia.

With gazetaweb.com